Grate cleaning

Former Member

First off congrats to FEC100 owner Don Truckenbrod of Pork Patrol BBQ on his calls in the holla at The Jack.

I am really anal when it comes to cleanliness and my FEC100. My grates are really hard to clean as they have aged. I need to know what it takes to bring them back to new. I have used Simple Green with a power washer but they just are not coming clean. I have the original nickel ones and smoke a lot of cheese but do not want the "meat residue" or the smoke/rust that is building up on them to "stain" the cheese. People think the cheese us bad or dirty.

Any suggestions?
Thanks Troy YoungBlood

10/26/1311:16 PM

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gqueMember

I don't have a FEC 100 but I do have an Amerique and also have the original nickel plate grates and was having same probs. Have you consider using frogmats on top of grates thus advoiding cleaning grates every time. Now I only clean them with grease lightning every serveral smokes.

10/27/131:36 AM

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maxqMember

I apply cooking spray prior to cooking. Afterwords I use a grill brush to remove the meat bits, followed by a spray of Grease Lightening. If you have a large scrub sink, soak them in Simple Green and hot water for an hour.

Frog mats would definately help too.

10/27/138:18 AM

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ezgoinMember

Get one of the large rectangular cement mixing tubs at Lowe's or Home Depot. It's large enough to hold racks, drip slide, and drain spout for a good soak,

10/27/139:21 AM

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vernonMember

when I bought my fec-100 I exchanged the chrome racks for stainless, when they need cleaning into the concrete tub from home depot with some dawn and water and let em soak, it they need shining up, sos steel wool pads work great!

10/27/134:46 PM

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Former Member

Thanks all.
I do have the concrete tub and I do spray Simple Green on everything. Then I head off to the local car wash and spray them down. The only thing I have a problem with is the nickle plated grates are getting pretty rusty (probably from cleaning them too much)

Vernon, I did order a set of the stainless but right now only use them for cheese.

One thing that you all have said in common might be to clean then good with Greased Lightening and a steel wool pad then start using frog mats and cooking spray.

Thanks For your help.

10/28/136:07 AM

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Former Member

You may find this interesting. I have been brewing beer for many years. To clean off the difficult brewing residue I use a food safe cleaner called PBW. Powdered Brewery Wash. It is very safe for Stainless and after a soak in warm water your grates will look like brand new. It may be a little pricey but you can get it online or at any brewing store.

10/29/135:49 PM

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Former Member

what i have used is baking soda with vinegar. this is a cheap to use and effective. i just add a little vinegar to create like a paste and use a green scrubby to work off the residue.

5/1/141:42 PM

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bigwheelMember

Well I am still trying to save up enough to buy one of them fancy pits like yall got..but for regular old bbq pit grates my favorite strategy is to leave them crudded up..cheap rust proofing..then when it comes time to cook again..hit them in place with a propane flame throw. 20 bucks or so at Harbor Freight. Burn all the crud off then give a wire brushing..then a squirt down with generic PAM and start cooking yet again. Cant see how many germs can make it through that flame.

5/1/144:35 PM

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Former Member

quote:
Originally posted by bigwheel:
Well I am still trying to save up enough to buy one of them fancy pits like yall got..but for regular old bbq pit grates my favorite strategy is to leave them crudded up..cheap rust proofing..then when it comes time to cook again..hit them in place with a propane flame throw. 20 bucks or so at Harbor Freight. Burn all the crud off then give a wire brushing..then a squirt down with generic PAM and start cooking yet again. Cant see how many germs can make it through that flame.

Thanks BW, but these are a different kind of metal than your offsets. Can't/shouldn't use a wire brush.

5/1/144:42 PM

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bigwheelMember

It sounds a bit kinky.

5/10/149:55 PM

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